United Airlines returns to Columbia Regional Airport on Thursday

By Zimmer Communications
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Missouri’s governor says United Airlines’ return to Columbia Regional Airport (COU) has a positive impact across the state.

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Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe (R) speaks at Mizzou Delta Days in southeast Missouri’s Portageville on August 11, 2025 (file photo courtesy of the governor’s Flickr page)

Governor Mike Kehoe, Columbia Mayor Pro Tem Nick Foster, Boone County Presiding Commissioner Kip Kendrick and Jefferson City Mayor Ron Fitzwater will be at Columbia Regional Airport (COU) for Thursday’s celebration welcoming United Airlines’ return to COU.

United announced in May that they’ll start providing two daily flights to Chicago O’Hare beginning today and one daily flight to Denver starting Friday. United offered flights from COU to both cities before suspending service during COVID. Columbia city manager De’Carlon Seewood says the Denver flight is made possible by a $1-million federal grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation.

UM System president Dr. Mun Choi, left, Columbia Mayor Barbara Buffaloe and COU manager Michael Parks spoke during May’s announcement about United Airlines (May 22, 2025 file photo courtesy of city of Columbia’s Facebook page)

Mizzou chief financial officer Ryan Rapp and United Airlines executive Sam Levy will also speak at today’s 1:30 ceremony in COU’s lobby.